Dorthea Mary Dones

With Sadness we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Aunt Dorthea M. (Voellger) Dones, age 90, of Gig Harbor, WA. 

Dorthea passed away peacefully on March 25, 2025. She was born on September 19, 1934, in Bremerton, WA, to Carl and Myrtle Voellger of Central Valley. Dorthea was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, leaving behind a legacy of love and warmth.

She was raised in Central Valley on a farm homesteaded by her grand parents and was THE definition of a native Washingtonian. Graduating from Central Kitsap High School in 1952, she was actively involved in various school activities, including the pep club. She was a kind and generous spirit who was always ready to support those around her.

In 1955, Dorthea married Alvin Hanson of North Dakota, and they had three children: Shelley, Paula, and Brad. Later married to Bob Nielens of Bremerton, they raised their children in a loving home. Later in life she found her true soul mate in James Dones of Olalla, WA, and they were married around 1981, enjoying many years together until his untimely death from Mesothelioma 2002. She mourned Jim until the very day she went to join him.

Dorthea’s professional journey began in the Airline travel industry, where she wrote airline tickets and planned itineraries. She later worked as a teller at the National Bank of Commerce in Bremerton, where she made lifelong friends. Her life took a turn when her oldest daughter was injured in a serious horse accident, prompting Dorthea to leave her job and care for her with love and dedication.

 She soon returned to work, finding a position at Keyport and later driving a bus at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS), where she made lasting memories and met the love of her life, Jim.

Dorthea’s greatest joy was her family. She was affectionately known as the “kool-aid mom,” always welcoming the neighborhood kids into her home. She never turned anyone away, and her home was a gathering place for many. Her love of the outdoors was evident in the countless camping trips she took with her children, their friends, and cousins. She was a devoted mother, sewing clothes for special occasions like Christmas and weddings.

Dorthea and Jim traveled extensively the short 20 years they had together, splitting their time between Yuma, AZ, and Olalla, WA. They enjoyed participating in SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) Cowboy shooting competitions where her handle was Dusty Daisy and commercial salmon fishing along the Olympic Peninsula, particularly in Pillar Point. During the winter, they explored the deserts and shooting ranges around Yuma, and in the summer, they reveled in the beauty of their home in Olalla.

Dorthea was also an avid gardener; enjoying time spent nurturing plants and flowers at the home she purchased after Jim’s passing. Later, Paula came to live with her, where they formed a stronger mother/daughter bond.

Dorthea is survived by her loving family: her sister, Dolores Williams; her daughter, Shelley Davis (Don); her son, Bradley Nielens (Heidi); four grandchildren, Ryan Morton, Dustin Rosas, Lindsey Werner (Jason), Cameron Rosas (Windel) two great- grandchildren, Justice and Quincy Dubose; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A service to honor Dorthea’s life will be held on April 12th at 1:00 PM at the Rill Life Tribute Center, 1151 Mitchell Ave, Port Orchard, WA 98366, officiated by her nephew, Eric Voellger.

The immediate family wishes to extend a special thanks to those who took on the burden of frequent visits, especially to Donald Davis her best friend and her niece Cynthia Jordan, and her many Voellger and Jordan nieces and nephews’ for their loving support during Dorthea’s final months with Alzheimer’s Dorthea’s warmth, kindness, and adventurous spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.